Hand held and operated sewing machine



July 2, 1968 N. K. MORRIS HAND HELD AND OPERATED SEWING MACHINE Filed Feb. 6, 1967 Il l Nl United States Patent O 3,390,652 HAND HELD AND OPERATED SEWING MACHINE Nathan K. Morris, 41 Ridge Ave., Neptune, NJ. 07753 Filed Feb. 6, 1967, Ser. No. 614,158 Claims. (Cl. 112-169) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention pertains to a hand held and operated sewing machine wherein an elongated body is provided with an overhanging shelf that serves as a support for fabric to be sewn. The shelf has associated therewith a fabric hold-down means and is provided with an opening through which a needle is projected -by an actuating bar that is reciprocably mounted on the elongated body. A looper that is provided with a hook in alignment with the needle is supported below the shelf for oscillation by a mechanical movement driven by the actuating bar simultaneously with actuation of the needle.

The present invention relates to sewing machines and specifically to portable sewing machines that can be held and operated by one hand of the operator.

The need for such a device, which is of a size that it can be readily carried on the person of the owner or that occupies but little space in luggage for making emergency repairs to clothing of tourists or other travelers whose schedule does not permit them to wait for the services of tailoring shops, has already been established. Devices of this type are available. However, in most instances they have not been commercially successful since they were either too costly or else mechanically unsatisfactory.

It is, accordingly, the object of the present invention to provide a hand held yand operated sewing machine which is mechanically dependable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hand held and operated sewing machine which is so constructed that binding of the parts thereof is prevented.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a hand held and operated sewing machine wherein friction of the operating parts thereof has been reduced to a minimum.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a device wherein the need for gears has been eliminated.

A further object of the invention is to produce such a device having a novel mechanical movement for driving the looper mechanism.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a hand held and operated sewing machine having a novel guide structure for the relatively movable parts.

An additional object of the invention is to produce a hand held and operated sewing 4machine having all the advantages previously set forth and yet of such small size that it may be carried in the pocket of the user.

The invention will be better understood, and objects other than those set forth will become apparent after reading the following detailed description thereof. Such description refers to the annexed drawings presenting a preferred and illustrative embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a side elevational view of the hand held and operated sewing machine constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational View of the sewing machine;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4 4 of FIGURE 1;

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FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 1.

With reference to the drawings, there is shown in FIG- URE l a hollow sewing machine body lmember 10 of any suitable material, such as metal or plastic, comprising a hollow top member 12 and a hollow bottom member 14. Top member 12 is provided with a top planar portion 16 and a depending flange portion including a side portion 18 and a front portion 20. Bottom member 14 has a bottom portion 22 provided with finger engaging portions 23, a continuous upwardly extending side portion 24 and an end wall 26. The edges of the hollow top Lmember 12 and bottom member 14 are arranged to mate with each other and form an enclosed chamber 28.

A tubular member 30 having a transversely extending end closure 32, which is provided with a threaded opening 34, extends inwardly from the inner surface of planar portion 16. The outer surface of bottom portion 22 is provided with a recess that receives therein the head of machine screw 36 that extends through bottom portion 22 into threaded opening 34 and thereby removably secures bottom member 14 to top member 12.

An overhanging shelf 38 provided with a needle receiving opening 40 is preferably formed integral with bottom member 14 and extends outwardly from end wall 26 at substantially right angles thereto. The upper surface of shelf 38 provides a fabric supporting surface 42 for fabric to be sewn by the sewing machine.

A material hold-down means 44 is supported from the front of top member 12. The hold-down means 44 includes a pressure foot means 46 and a support means 4S therefor. Pressure foot means 46 may be formed of any suitable material, however, it has been found that spring metal is especially suited for this purpose. The pressure foot means 46 has an opening 50 therethrough and through which the needle 58 passes during operation of the machine. The support means 4S is formed as a narrow flat projection, preferably integral with top mem-ber 12 and extending forwardly of front portion 20.

Pressure foot means 46 also includes a preformed flat portion 52, which lies along the surface of flat projection 48, and preformed sides 54, 54', which engage around the sides of :flat projection 48.

A needle actuating bar 56 has a needle 58 removably secured thereto by means of a screw 60. Needle actuating bar 56 has mounted thereon a support 62 for a spool of thread 64.

A pair of spaced tubular means 66, 66 of plastic material or metal are mounted in any well known manner to depend from the lower surface of actuating bar 56. AS shown in the drawings, however, they extend into openings 68, 68 and may be retained therein by friction or fused directly to the actuating bar. Tubular means 66, 66 are arranged to be reciprocated through openings 70, 70 formed in the planar portion I6 of top member 12.

A pair of tubular means 72, 72', similar in construction to tubular means 66, 66', are arranged to extend upwardly from the bottom portion 22 of bottom member 14 into the enclosed chamber 28. Tubular means 72, 72 may be secured to bottom portion 22 of bottom member 14 in any suitable manner but, as shown in the drawings, extend into openings 74, 74 wherein they are secured by friction or fusing directly to the bottom member 14.

Tubular means 66, 66 have, respectively, internal diameters greater than the external diameters of tubular means 72, 72. The ends of tubular members 66, 66 remote from their attachment with actuating bar 55 are, however, provided with transverse portions 75, 75 which, on reciprocation of the actuating bar 56 and associated tubular means 66, 66', with respect to body member 10, slide, in contacting relation, along tubular means 72, 72'. Tubular means 72, 72' are, respectively, closed at their ends and have secured thereto, by means of machine screws 76, 76', inverted cap-like members 78, 78. Transverse portions 75, 75 provide shoulders which, respectively, coact with the cap-like members 78, 78 to limit movement of the actuating bar outwardly with respect to body member 1t). Springs `8f), 80 which are located within the enclosed chamber 28, respectively surround tubular means 72, 72 and extend between the bottom 22 of member 14 and transverse portions 75, 75 so as to normally bias the actuating bar 56 outwardly away from body member 10.

A looper means, indicated generally -by the numeral 82, is supported below the overhanging shelf 33 `by a U-shaped mem-ber 84 that is secured to the overhanging shelf 38 by a screw 86. Looper means 82 comprises a thread engaging hook 88 in alignment with needle receiving opening t), a rotatably mounted drive shaft 90 and a drive shaft oscillating link 92. Although the looper means S2 is illustrated as formed as a one-piece rod-like member, it is to be understood that it could be formed in any equivalent manner.

U-shaped member 84 has formed in the end of each of its legs 94 a recess 96 including an outwardly facing circular shaft supporting bearing portion 98. The periphery of bearing portion 98 is slightly in excess of one hundred and eighty degrees and the diameter of the drive shaft 90 is equal to that of the circular bearing portion 98. With such a construction the drive shaft may be inserted into recess 96 and when an adequate force is applied thereto, the legs of U-shaped member S4 will yield sufficiently to permit the drive shaft 90 to snap into and be retained in the circular bearing portion 98.

A motion transmitting means or connecting rod 100 having an angularly extending terminal portion 102 operatively associated with drive shaft oscillating link 92 is connected to needle actuating bar 56 by means of a screw 104.

The hand held and operated sewing machine herein described is operated in the following manner. After threading needle 5S the machine is grasped in one hand with the ngers of the operator contacting linger engaging portions 23 and the palm of the hand engaging actuating bar 56. The fabric to -be sewn is then inserted between the fabric supporting surface 42 and the pressure foot means 46. Sewing is accomplished by alternately contracting the hand holding the machine thereby moving the actuating bar S6 from a starting position against the force of the spring Si) and driving the needle through the fabric and needle receiving opening 50 into the vicinity of the thread engaging hook 58, and opening the hand thereby causing the spring 80 to act on actuating bar 56 to effect return Of the actuating bar to its starting position and return of the needle through the needle receiving opening 5). Simultaneously with reciprocation of the needle by the actuating bar 56, the actuating bar will reciprocate the motion transmitting means 100 causing it to oscillate the looper means 82. It should be apparent that each oscillation of the looper means 82 will produce a loop in timed relation to the reciprocation of the needle so that continuous operation of the looper and needle will produce a continuous sewing operation. However, should a more detailed explanation of the sewing operation be desired, reference is made to the Heffron Patent No. 2,169,528, granted Aug. 15, 1939, which contains a detailed explanation of a sewing operation similar to that performed by the sewing machine of the instant invention and for that reason is not repeated herein.

After reading the foregoing detailed description, it will be apparent that the objects set forth initially have been successfully achieved.

What is claimed is:

1. A hand held and operated sewing machine comprising a body member having at one end an overhanging fabric supporting shelf provided with a needle receiving opening extending transversely therethrough and a fabric hold-down means; an actuating bar mounted for reciprocation toward and away from said body member; a needle supported by said actuating bar in alignment with said needle receiving opening for reciprocation therethrough; looper means supported by said body and disposed below said shelf; said looper means comprising a thread engaging hook in alignment with said needle receiving opening, a rotatably mounted drive shaft and a drive shaft oscillating link including a connecting rod receiving slot means; and a connecting rod extending from said actuating bar and operatively associated with said slot means of said drive shaft oscillating link in a manner to effect oscillation of said drive shaft and thereby said thread engaging hook.

2. A hand held and operated sewing machine as in claim 1 wherein said looper means, in its entirety, comprises a one-piece rod-like member.

3. A hand held and operated sewing machine as in claim 1 wherein an inverted U-shaped member is attached to and below said over-hanging shelf and the legs of said U-shaped member provide bearings for said drive shaft.

4. A hand held and operated sewing machine as in claim 3 wherein the end of each leg of the U-shaped member is provided with a recess including an outwardly facing circular rotatable shaft supporting bearing portion.

5. A hand held and operated sewing machine as in claim 4 wherein the periphery of the outwardly facing circular rotatable shaft supporting bearing portion is slightly in excess of one hundred and eighty degrees whereby said rotatable shaft may be snapped into and frictionally retained in said bearing portion.

6. A hand held and operated sewing machine as in claim 5 wherein said looper means, in its entirety, comprises a one-piece rod-like member.

7. A hand held and operated sewing machine as in claim 6 wherein said fabric hold-down means is formed of a resilient material and is positioned in closely spaced relation to said fabric supporting shelf.

8. A hand held and operated sewing machine as in claim 1 wherein said hollow body comprises a top member and a bottom member separable from said top member and wherein said telescoping guide means comprises a pair of spaced first tubular means within and carried by said bottom member extending toward said top member and a pair of spaced second tubular means carried by said actuating bar and extending toward said bottom member.

9. A hand held and operated sewing machine as in claim 8 wherein a spring means surrounds each of said first tubular means and is arranged to bias said actuating bar away from said bottom member.

10. A hand held and operated sewing machine comprising a body member having at on end an overhanging fabric supporting shelf provided with a needle receiving opening extending transversely therethrough and a fabric hold-down means; an actuating bar mounted for reciprocation toward and away from said body member; a needle supported by said actuating bar in alignment with said needle receiving opening for reciprocation therethrough; looper means supported by said body and disposed below said shelf; said looper means comprising a thread engaging hook in alignment with said needle receiving opening, a rotatably mounted drive shaft and a drive shaft oscillating link; a connecting rod extending from said actuating bar and operatively associated with said drive shaft oscillating link in a manner to effect oscillation of said drive shaft and thereby said thread engaging hook; and said looper means, in its entirety, comprises a one-piece rod-like member having a slot therein cooperating with said oscillating link.

11. A hand held and operated sewing machine comprising a body member having at one end an overhanging fabric supporting shelf provided with a needle receiving opening extending transversely therethrough and a fabric hold-down means; an actuating bar mounted for reciprocation toward and away from said body member; a needle supported by said actuating bar in alignment with said needle receiving opening for rcciprocation therethrough; looper means supported by said body and disposed below said shelf; said looper means comprising a thread engaging hook in alignment with said needle receiving opening, a rotatably mounted drive shaft and a drive shaft oscillating link; a connecting rod extending from said actuating bar and operatively associated with said drive shaft oscillating link in a manner to effect oscillation of said drive shaft and thereby said thread engaging hook; and an inverted U-shaped member attached to and below said overhanging shelf and the legs of said U-shaped member to provide bearings for said drive shaft.

1.2, A hand held and operated sewing machine comprising a hollow body member having at one end an overhanging shelf, including a fabric supporting surface, provided with a needle receiving opening extending transversely therethrough and a fabric hold-down means; an actuating bar mounted for reciprocation toward and away from said hollow body mem-ber; a needle supported by said actuating bar in alignment with said needle receiving opening for reciprocation therethrough; looper means including a thread engaging hook supported by said hollow body member; motion transmitting means operatively interconnecting said actuating bar with said looper means for oscillation of said looper means; and telescoping guide means for said actuating bar carried by said hollow body member and actuating bar; said hollow body member comprises a top member and a bottom member separable from said top member and wherein said telescoping guide means comprises at least a first tubular means within and carried by said bottom member extending toward said top member and at least a second tubular means carried by said actuating bar and extending toward said bottom member, one of said tubular means has a transverse portion providing a shoulder and the other of said tubular means is provided with a transversely extending means cooperating with said shoulder to limit outward movement of said actuating bar away from said body member.

13. A hand held and operated sewing machine as in claim 12 wherein said transversely extending means is removably secured to said second tubular means.

14. A hand held and operated sewing machine as in claim 13 wherein means is provided between said bottom member and said transverse portion to yieldingly bias said actuating bar away from said bottom member.

1S. A hand held and operated sewing machine comprising a body member having at one end an overhanging fabric supporting shelf provided with a needle receiving opening extending transversely therethrough and a fabric hold-down means; an actuating bar mounted for reciprocation toward and away from said body member; a needle supported by said actuating bar in alignment with said needle receiving opening for reciprocation therethrough; looper means supported by said body and disposed below said shelf; said looper means comprising a thread engaging hook in alignment with said needle receiving opening, a rotatably mounted drive shaft and a drive shaft oscillating link; a connecting rod extending from said actuating bar and operatively associated with said drive shaft oscillating link in a manner to effect oscillation of said drive shaft and thereby said thread engaging hook; said body member is hollow and comprises a top member and a -bottom member separable from said top member; telescoping guide means are provided for said actuating bar which comprises a pair of first spaced tubular means within and carried by said bottom member and extending toward said top member, and a pair of second spaced tubular means carried by said actuating bar and extending toward said bottom member, with each of said second tubular means having a transverse portion forming a shoulder that slidably engages the exterior of an associated first tubular means and which coacts with transversely extending means removably mounted on said rst tubular means to limit movement of said actuating bar away from said bottom member; said looper is a one-piece rod-like member; said fabric hold-down means is formed of resilient material and is positioned in closely spaced relation to said fabric supporting shelf; an inverted U-shaped member is attached to and below said overhanging shelf and has formed in the end of each of its legs a recess including an outwardly facing circular rotatable shaft receiving opening, the periphery of the perimeter of which is slightly more than one hundred and eighty degrees so that said rotatable shaft may be snapped into and frictionally retained in said circular shaft receiving opening; and a spring surrounds each of said first tubular means and eX- tends between said bottom member and said actuating bar so as to yieldingly bias said actuating bar away from said body member,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,169,528 8/1939 Heffron 1l2-169 2,928,363 3/1960 Saltz et al. 112-169 3,246,620 4/1966 Sigoda et a1 i12-235 XR JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

JAMES R. BOLER, Assistant Examiner. 

